Comparative Study of Counter Electrodes Affecting the Conversion Efficiency in Fabrication of Dye Sensitized Solar Cell using Mixture of Dyes in Different Solvents

Abstract

In this article, dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) was fabricated and studied using various organic dyes, which were dissolved in three solvents viz. ethanol, double distilled water and DMSO. Furthermore, these cells were studied using different catalytic materials as counter electrode. Differences in conversion efficiencies were observed when used with platinum, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)- poly(styrenesulphonate)[PEDOT:PSS]-graphite and graphite as a counter electrode. Each electrons generated from dye, after its exposure to sunlight, were injected into conduction band of semiconductor (titanium dioxide). These electrons then were collected for load via fluorine doped tin oxide glass electrode and arrive at counter electrode, to speed up the redox reaction with tri-iodide/iodide (I3 –/I–) electrolyte. Firstly, high efficiencies were obtained for mixture of dyes when compared to results of their individual dyes, thus, showing the influence of mixture of dyes. Secondly varying counter electrode with photosensitizers viz. crystal violet B and Azur I gave conversion efficiency (η) in order platinum ≈ graphite-PEDOT: PSS > graphite.